Chapter 2 Metanoia

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

                                  ______

"And that's all I know.." Eliza, William, Ida and herself were all sitting at the table, she had just finished explaining for an hour and twenty three minutes. She told them everything she knew, answered as many questions she had the ability to. Eliza sat there quietly, thinking..

"I believe you.." all heads perked up, the one statement that could bring her some comfort. She wasn't surprised when it came from Ida, as she seemed to be the most imaginative, so why wouldn't she believe her.

"I believe you.. I- I know it seems impossible, oh Eliza she's not a mad woman she's just scared and lost, there's so much we don't know, how do we explain this...phe-?" "Phone, it's technology from the future.." she finished for Ida. "It just seems impossible." Eliza added, shaking her head as she could feel the birds flying in circles around her. Eliza's brain strained to think about the possibilities that life would be so different. In a normal world she wouldn't believe her, none of them would, expect for Ida.. she might. Eliza always told her that imagining things to be true doesn't make them true. Although this was not a normal world for what they thought of it to be.

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Over the past four weeks the girl had grown used to Dysfonctionnement De L'heure, that's what the gables of her new home was called. She did not know what it meant yet it made her feel home. Somehow Ida continues to show her a new adventure every day; a new field or another sight of the ocean that she's never seen before, it is all exquisite.

She breathed in, and she closed her eyes, taking in the smell of the sea and the salt, along with the flowers and the many dandelions. "I've never lived in such a place that is more then just buildings and smoke, De L'heure is so..magical really. I know you already think that but there's just so much to see, so much to do, it feels good to breathe knowing that the air is clean and everything's perfect here..thank you, anne, thank you for convincing them to let me stay with you in avonlea, in De L'heure.." She looks at Ida as they sit side by side on a blanket looking over the ocean from the stretch of land that could go for miles and miles, and probably did for what she imagined.

"Maybe you were meant to be here, and that's why you got stuck here. I'm more then happy that you are here. It's a thrill to be able to learn so many new things and your never someone I've met before..truly a lost kindred spirit.." Ida lifts up her pinkie, the girl couldn't help but smile lifting up hers to Ida's, as they intertwine they laugh with each other.

Ida laid back down on the blanket and stretches her arm out, being so close to the sea, the wind blowing their hair into unknown-full patterns, the girl truly thought she were in a movie, or a dream.. She pinched herself, she wanted to know it wasn't a dream, it was real and it wasn't fake, she wasn't in a prank show..it was real. "Can I ask you something?" Ida questions - looking at the sky with her hand in the air. The wind blowing her red shiny hair, her freckles standing out as her eyes show the most you can learn about her without asking a single question or saying a word. "Of course, your questions always lead to an adventure, so lead the way." She replied smiling, as she looks at the red head.

" 'There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.' I read that quote in the book William gave me from his childhood. I was thinking how..how your family must feel, how the boy your with..or were with..must feel, and how you must feel. I know you seem happy here in Quebec, but don't you miss it? I know I would, knowing I was in a place I never knew before not knowing how I got there and being alone and away from everyone who loves me..how do you adjust to it?"

She says as she turns to meet eyes with the girl with golden brown hair that falls in perfect curls to her shoulders, her milky brown eyes tainting a sorrowful look, although if you look at them any other time of the day you can see the fire in her eyes, she definitely shared some things with anne, and a temper was one of them. Eliza had witnessed what a temper she has when she attempted to understand Ida's homework. The brunette's nose, small and petite, her lips, not so big but not too small, just the right place for the right person to find comfort in, her teeth were perfect and Ida wished she had a perfect smile like her.

Nevertheless, no matter how much she complimented her she always thanked Ida, but she could tell with the look in her eyes and her trying to smile, that she never really believed it. Ida wished she had more confidence, although she couldn't really tell her that without taking her own advice. Ida was confident in many ways, yet when it came to looks, she wasn't so confident. She always liked to imagine she had black hair, long black hair, with green eyes and a pretty smile. Although it was still all imaginary, and never real.

"Well.." the still yet to be explored girl began.

"Honestly, it's hard if I have to be quite frank. I don't know if my family is okay, if Noah is okay.. but there's nothing I can do about it, how did I get here? I have such little to go on. Doubting that anyone in this time can help me. I simply can not build my hopes on a foundation of confusion and misery and the hope of returning home, sometimes painful endings bring the best new beginnings. I'd rather flourish and thrive in my new life and take advantage of it, than mope around and be miserable for the rest of my time here, although I do dearly miss my friends and family, there is simply nothing I can do.." She lifts her hand to her cheek and wipes away a tear that quickly escaped without her permission so anne wouldn't see her cry.

She looked up to Ida as Ida did to her. She never cried or gave up or showed weakness when she was around Ida, expect for the first night they met.

She wanted to be strong for Ida, to show her you can be brave and to not give up, yet she really didn't know what to do, as she just went with whatever life threw at her, or wherever it brought her. "We should probably get back, Eliza will be in a fret if we don't help her make supper." She said with a giggle, Ida smiled at her.

They picked up the blanket and folded it together and Ida put it under her arm as they started to walk back through the fields to De L'heure, already imagining the smell of spices, and hearing the sizzle of meat that William would bring in from town.

Eliza was making chicken, Ida couldn't bear for William to slaughter one of their own chickens after she had named them all, so he had to go out into town and buy one, which was fine with him, he didn't have to skin it and clean it off so Eliza could cook it.

Tomorrow the girl could go to school, her first day. Eliza did not finish her dress in time but she said she could wear what she had. Eliza didn't like that idea but she had no choice, she didn't fit in any of Ida's clothing so she just had to do for one more day. The one she was working on is silky blue with puffed sleeves as anne convinced her it's what a girl needs. "That's hardly what a girl needs, it's a waste of material..but if you MUST insist." She shook her head in disagreement. The color didn't look as well as it would have on Ida, but blue was her favorite color, it was a dark blue bell blue, and it would bring out all the little details of her. "Ida set the table, child get the tea why don't you." "Yes Ms.Smith" the girl said, "I told you Eliza will do just fine, thank you" she just nodded her head to Eliza's words, even being here a month everything was still..not quite there yet, it felt as if she were in jet lag and it hadn't shaken off yet. After Ida set the table and the girl poured the tea for everyone, Eliza went to fetch William for supper.

After everyone sat down they said their prayers and ate, the milky brown haired girl didn't believe in a god, but she didn't want to upset Eliza so she pretended to pray. "Are you excited for school tomorrow? Oh I am, it's gonna be so divine to finally have you there, I know the girls will love you just so much, oh you must meet Delaney, she's my other bosom friend. I'm sure you can have more then one bosom friend, as you are my other one. Delaney is very sweet and kind, she was my first friend when i came here, other than the lake of shinning waters, that was my first friend. Oh aren't you just bursting with exhilaration!!"

Ida spoke all within one breath! William laughed at himself for a moment, he remembered so vividly how when Ida first came, she immediately fell in love with every plant, bush and tree in sight. She was so astonished with how De L'heure looked and the town along with it.

The brunette just smiled and nodded, quietly eating her food. After she finished eating she asked if she could be excused to go to bed.

"But it's still so early, I can still hear the nightingale sing!" Ida begged "I- I know it's just I am really tired, it's  been a long day." "Well that's just fine, go upstairs and wash up for bed." Eliza nodded to her, she thanked her and washed her plate, fork and cup then walked upstairs and washed her face.

"Wish the person who made plumbing would make it already." She muttered to herself, although it was amazing and she loved living in a different time, it still wasn't something she was used to.

After drying off her face, she changed into her nightgown and got into bed, staring out the window viewing De L'heure as the sun went down. The next morning would be a start to a new future, a new day, she thought to herself. She could get through this, she had switched schools many times before. She knew what it's like to be the new kid, yet would it really be the same? How much could be different from my century? It's an older time, I should know more that they do. It will be a breeze. With the calming thought that she would have an advantage, she was ready for sleep to overcome her.